Rack Template Reuse for Equipment Layout Design Efficiency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing techniques for managing and designing equipment layouts in facilities like data centers are inefficient, particularly during the layout design stage, where sorting devices, examining storage positions, and connecting cables are burdensome and prone to errors, requiring improved methods to enhance efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An equipment layout design support device and method that includes a setting screen controller, input information obtainer, and setting information outputter to manage and store settings related to rack characteristics and equipment, facilitating efficient design and arrangement planning by reusing rack templates for improved workflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual processes are used for sorting devices, examining storage positions, and connecting cables during layout design, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but productivity is low and the process is burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses templates to copy rack configurations and device arrangements. The template management unit stores standardized rack templates that can be reused across multiple layouts, eliminating the need to manually recreate similar configurations and significantly improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-defining rack templates with standardized configurations, device positions, and cable connection patterns before actual layout design. This preliminary preparation reduces the complexity of subsequent design work and accelerates the overall process.
2Reliability
If detailed manual arrangement and cable connection processes are performed, then accuracy and reliability are improved, but loss of time increases due to repetitive tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The template management unit copies proven successful rack configurations and cable connection patterns from existing templates. This ensures that reliable, tested arrangements are reused, maintaining high accuracy while eliminating repetitive manual work that consumes time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating layout configurations based on selected templates and input parameters. The layout generation unit automatically arranges devices and calculates cable connections without requiring manual intervention for each detail, reducing time loss while maintaining reliability through systematic processing.
3Productivity
If standardized templates are used for rack arrangements, then productivity is improved and repetitive tasks are reduced, but adaptability to specific custom requirements may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing templates to be dynamically adjusted and modified. The template management unit enables users to customize template parameters such as rack dimensions, device positions, and cable routes to match specific project requirements, maintaining both productivity through standardization and adaptability through flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The template system serves multiple functions: it provides standardized configurations for rapid deployment, allows customization for specific requirements, and enables reuse across different projects. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between productivity and adaptability by making the same template system versatile enough to handle both standard and custom scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A setting screen controller 50 of an equipment layout design support device 10 controls a setting screen for receiving selection of a device to be housed in a rack, and setting related to a housing destination slot and connection between devices. A device information obtainer 56 reads catalog information and inventory quantity of the device from a device information storage 66, and provides the read information to the setting screen controller 50. A setting information outputter 54 associates the settings with characteristics of the rack and stores the information in a rack information storage 64. The setting screen controller 50 displays the stored rack setting information in a selectable manner at the time of setting rack arrangement in an installation location.